Do I Need to Remove My Wisdom Teeth?

Hi! I’m Dr Michael Cai, the principal dentist here at Pitt St Dental Centre in Sydney CBD.

Last weekend, I went to my local cafe and bumped into one of my good friends from high school. When he found out I am now a dentist, he mentioned that his brother recently had his wisdom teeth removed. He was curious whether he should also get his wisdom teeth extracted.

This is often a question we get from our patients, whether they need their wisdom teeth removed, so I thought of making this short video to share with you if it’s necessary to remove wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth removal is often misunderstood. It is not a compulsory procedure for every individual, but rather a surgical intervention tailored specifically to your oral condition and potential dental problems.

For example, your mouth is spacious and well-structured, with plenty of room for your third molars, or wisdom teeth, to emerge properly. You have mastered the art of maintaining impeccable oral hygiene, keeping every tooth, including your wisdom teeth, in pristine condition. In this case, would wisdom teeth removal still be necessary? The answer is no.

However, let’s consider another scenario. Suppose your wisdom teeth are prone to repeated infections or are growing in such a way that they compromise the health of the teeth in front. Or, they become plaque hotspots or decay. In these circumstances, their removal would be a good idea.

In addition, impacted wisdom teeth can sometimes lead to severe complications, such as cysts or tumours. In such cases, removal is absolutely critical to ensure your overall oral health.

Do I Need to Remove My Wisdom Teeth in Sydney - Pitt Street Dental Centre

So, what’s the next step? It begins with a consultation with your dentist. Typically, we start with a thorough examination to assess the position and angulation of your wisdom teeth. An essential tool we employ is a radiograph. This enables us to determine the wisdom teeth’s alignment relative to the adjacent tooth and other crucial anatomical structures.

This is followed by a detailed conversation, laying out the pros and cons, the risks and benefits of two options: removal or monitoring. This evidence-based discussion guides us in deciding whether it’s in your best interest to retain your wisdom teeth for a lifetime or to remove them preemptively to ward off potential complications.

Wisdom teeth removal is a unique journey, specific to each individual. And as always, our goal is to ensure your oral health is optimal.

So that’s it for now. I hope you’ve found this short video useful and gained a better insight into whether a wisdom teeth extraction is necessary.

If you think your wisdom teeth could be causing you pain and want an expert opinion, we would love to look after you.

Here at Pitt St Dental Centre, we offer flexible payment options, as well as assisting you to gain early release of your super to fund your dental treatment, so you can get the treatment you need faster.

Simply call us on 02 9223 4767, complete the booking form on our website, or send us a DM on social media, and we’ll be in touch to help you organise your smile consultation. See you in the next video.